Voltage control device for ear microphone

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a voltage control device including a voltage detector detecting an output voltage output from an output port of a mobile communication device; and a voltage control circuit bypassing the output voltage to an earpiece in which a speaker and a microphone are integrally formed when the output voltage detected by the voltage detector is between a first voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/981,926 filed Jul. 26, 2013, which is a National StageApplication of PCT International Patent Application No.PCT/KR2011/008386 filed Nov. 4, 2011, which claims priority to KoreanPatent Application Nos. 10-2011-0008760 filed Jan. 28, 2011,10-2011-0037413 filed Apr. 21, 2011, and 10-2011-0049421 filed May 25,2011, which are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments according to the concept of the present invention relate toan ear microphone and a voltage control device, and in particular, to anear microphone allowing a user to have a clear phone call with his/hercounterpart even in a noisy environment, and a voltage control devicefor the ear microphone capable of maintaining a constant level of anoutput voltage output from an output port of a mobile communicationdevice and thus removing echo and howling phenomena.

In general, the ear microphone is used to be worn on ears of a userwhile the ear microphone is coupled with an external apparatus such assound equipment or a mobile phone as is done in a general earphone.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of a conventional earmicrophone.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ear microphone consists of a connector 10 to becoupled with an external apparatus 1, and a main body 20 to be worn onears of the user. The main body 20 is shaped to be inserted into the earof the user and includes a speaker 22 outputting a voice signal and amicrophone 23 converting the voice signal delivered through the externalauditory meatus of the user into an electric signal and outputting theelectric signal to the connector 10 in a surface facing the ear of theuser.

In the case of the ear microphone, an external noise is introduced intothe ear microphone to cause the echo or howling phenomenon to occur.

The levels of the output voltage output from the output port of themobile communication device such as a mobile phone or a smartphone tothe ear microphone jack are different depending on the kind of themobile phone or the smartphone.

In addition, the levels of the output voltage output from the outputport of the mobile communication device to the ear microphone jack aredifferent even when the kinds of the mobile phone or the smartphone areidentical to one another. Accordingly, the echo and howling phenomenamay occur due to the difference in output voltage level when the userhas a conversation with his/her counterpart using the microphoneimplemented in the ear microphone. In particular, the phenomena becomeworse in the ear microphone in which the speaker and the microphone areintegrally formed.

SUMMARY

The present invention is to provide an ear microphone allowing thevibration noise within the ear microphone to be reduced and noisecomponents such as the echo and howling occurring within the earmicrophone to be removed, and a voltage control device for the earmicrophone allowing the level of the output voltage output from theoutput port of the mobile communication device to be constantlymaintained to remove the echo and howling that may occur when thespeaker and the microphone are integrally formed and disposed in anearpiece.

The ear microphone according to embodiments of the present inventionincludes a microphone converting a voice signal into an electric signal,a speaker converting an electric signal into a voice signal, and asoundproof member in which the microphone and the speaker are disposedand a first penetrating groove and a second penetrating groove areincluded.

The soundproof member may include a first soundproof member and a secondsoundproof member, and an output terminal of the speaker and an inputterminal of the microphone may be disposed in the first soundproofmember toward the same direction.

The microphone may include a back hole, and the soundproof member mayfurther include a third penetrating groove.

The third penetrating groove may include at least one penetratinggroove.

The first soundproof member may include protrusions.

The second soundproof member may form a space A in which an electroniccircuit is disposed.

The second soundproof member may form a space B in which an electricinterconnection is disposed.

The second soundproof member may form a space C in which an electricinterconnection connecting the speaker to the microphone is disposedoutside the second soundproof member.

The ear microphone may further include a housing, and the housing mayinclude a housing-separating film separating signals output from thespeaker from signals input to the microphone.

The ear microphone may further include a cover, and the cover mayinclude a cover-separating film separating signals output from thespeaker from signals input to the microphone.

The housing-separating film and the cover-separating film may be“T”-shaped.

An ear microphone according to embodiments of the present inventionincludes an earphone unit including a first earphone unit having amicrophone and a first speaker and a second earphone unit having asecond speaker, and a control unit controlling the microphone, the firstspeaker, and the second speaker, wherein the microphone and the firstspeaker may be disposed in a first soundproof member, and the secondspeaker may be disposed in a second soundproof member.

The first soundproof member may include a front end soundproof memberand a back end soundproof member, and an output terminal of the firstspeaker and an input terminal of the microphone are disposed in thefront end soundproof member toward the same direction.

The first speaker may be a speaker outputting a high-note sound, and thesecond speaker may be a speaker outputting a low-note sound.

The first speaker may be a balanced-armature (BA) driver, and the secondspeaker may be a dynamic driver.

The first soundproof member may have a first penetrating groove and asecond penetrating groove.

The microphone may include a back hole, and the first soundproof membermay further include a third penetrating groove.

The first soundproof member may include protrusions.

The first earphone unit may further include a housing, and the housingmay include a housing-separating film separating signals output from thefirst speaker from signals input to the microphone.

The first earphone unit may further include a cover, and the cover mayinclude a cover-separating film separating signals output from the firstspeaker from signals input to the microphone.

A voltage control device for an ear microphone according to embodimentsof the present invention includes a voltage detector detecting an outputvoltage output from an output port of a mobile communication device, anda voltage control circuit bypassing the output voltage to an earpiece inwhich a speaker and a microphone are integrally formed when the outputvoltage detected by the voltage detector is between a first voltage anda second voltage higher than the first voltage.

The voltage control circuit amplifies the output voltage to a voltagebetween the first and second voltages and supplies the amplified voltageto the earpiece when the detected output voltage is lower than the firstvoltage.

The voltage control circuit attenuates the output voltage to a voltagebetween the first and second voltages and supplies the attenuatedvoltage to the earpiece when the detected output voltage is higher thanthe second voltage.

A voltage control device for an ear microphone according to otherembodiments of the present invention includes a voltage detectordetecting an output voltage output from an output port of a mobilecommunication device and outputting a control code, a bypass circuitbypassing the output voltage to an earpiece in which a speaker and amicrophone are integrally formed in accordance with the control codehaving a first code, an amplifying circuit amplifying the output voltageand transmitting the amplified voltage to the earpiece in accordancewith the control code having a second code, and an attenuating circuitattenuating the output voltage and transmitting the attenuated voltageto the earpiece in accordance with the control code having a third code.

The voltage detector generates the control code having the first codewhen the output voltage detected by the voltage detector is between afirst voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage,generates the control code having the second code when the detectedoutput voltage is lower than the first voltage, and generates thecontrol code having the third code when the detected output voltage ishigher than the second voltage.

According to the ear microphone of embodiments of the present invention,the output terminal of the speaker and the input terminal of themicrophone are disposed toward the same direction in the soundproofmember within the ear microphone and the speaker and the microphone areseparately disposed in the soundproof member, thereby reducing avibration noise occurring in the ear microphone and suppressing echo andoscillation phenomena from occurring due to the signal output from thespeaker and introduced to the input terminal of the microphone.

In addition, the soundproof member within the ear microphone can preventexternal noises from being introduced.

In addition, the separating film can be formed on the cover and/or thehousing of the ear microphone to block echo and howling phenomena,thereby enabling the user to have a clear telephone call.

In addition, a speaker reproducing a high-note sound can be employed forone earphone unit of the ear microphone and a speaker reproducing alow-note sound can be employed for the other earphone unit, therebyoutputting a wide reproduction range of the sound.

In addition, the output terminal of the speaker and the input terminalof the microphone are disposed toward the same direction in thesoundproof member within the ear microphone and the speaker and themicrophone are separately disposed in the soundproof member, therebyreducing the vibration noise occurring in the ear microphone andsuppressing the echo and oscillation phenomena from occurring due to thesignal output from the speaker and introduced to the input terminal ofthe microphone.

In addition, the soundproof member within the ear microphone can preventexternal noises from being introduced.

In addition, the separating film can be formed on the cover and/or thehousing of the ear microphone to block the echo and howling phenomena,thereby enabling the user to have a clear telephone call.

According to the voltage control device for the ear microphone ofembodiments of the present invention, the output voltage output from theoutput port of the mobile communication device can be maintained at aconstant level, and the echo and howling that may occur when the speakerand the microphone are integrally formed can be reduced, therebyenhancing the call quality.

In addition, according to the voltage control device for the earmicrophone of embodiments of the present invention, the ear microphonecan control the output irrespective of the model of the mobilecommunication device, which can thus be applied to various mobilecommunication devices even with one development, and tuning is notrequired for the ear microphone, thereby shortening the developmentperiod of the mobile communication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of each drawing will be provided to moreunderstand the drawings referred to in the detailed description of thepresent invention in which;

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of aconventional ear microphone;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a configuration of an ear microphoneaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a second soundproof member according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a second soundproof member according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a wired ear microphone according to anembodiment of the ear microphone of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a wireless ear microphone according toanother embodiment of the ear microphone of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a first earphone unit according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a front end soundproof member of a firstsoundproof member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 to 11 are a perspective view, a top view, and a bottom view of afront end soundproof member of the first soundproof member according toan embodiment of the present invention, respectively,

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a portion of the housing according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a cover according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D′ of the cover ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a second earphone unit according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a front end soundproof member of a secondsoundproof member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a sound frequency response curve outputfrom a first speaker of a first earphone unit and a sound frequencyresponse curve output from a second speaker of a second earphone unitaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a frequency response curve of a soundheard by both ears of a user;

FIG. 19 illustrates an ear microphone including a voltage control devicefor the ear microphone according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating the voltage control device forthe ear microphone shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram illustrating operations of the voltagecontrol device for the ear microphone shown in FIG. 19; and

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the voltage controldevice for the ear microphone shown in FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific or functional description with respect to embodiments disclosedherein according to the concept of the present invention is intended tomerely explain the embodiments according to the concept of the presentinvention, and the embodiments according to the concept of the presentinvention may be embodied in various forms and are not limited to theembodiments described herein.

Since various changes may be made and several forms may be embodied inthe embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, theembodiments are intended to be illustrated in the drawings and describedin detail herein. However, the embodiments according to the concept ofthe present invention are not limited to the specific embodiments setforth herein, and include all changes, equivalents, or substitutesincluded in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

While terms such as first or second may be used to describe variouscomponents, such components must not be limited to the above terms. Theabove terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. Forexample, a first component may be referred to as a second component andlikewise a second component may be referred to as a first componentwithout departing from the scope of rights according to the concept ofthe present invention.

When it is mentioned that one component is “connected” or “accessed” toanother component, it may be understood that the one component isdirectly connected or accessed to another component or that stillanother component is interposed between the two components. In themeantime, when it is mentioned that one component is “directlyconnected” or “directly accessed” to another component, it may beunderstood that no component is interposed therebetween. Otherexpressions describing the relation between components, for example,“between” and “immediately between,” or “adjacent to” and “directlyadjacent to” should also be interpreted similarly.

Terms used herein are provided for merely explaining specificembodiments of the present invention, not limiting the invention. Thesingular forms “a”, “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe understood that the terms “comprises” or “has” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, or a combination thereof, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or a combinationthereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein including technical orscientific terms are same as those generally understood by those skilledin the art. Terms such as those defined in the generally used dictionaryshould be interpreted as having the same meaning as that in terms ofcontext in the related art, and are not interpreted as an ideal orexcessively formal meaning unless clearly defined herein.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail bydescribing preferred embodiments of the present invention with referenceto accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a configuration of an ear microphoneaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ear microphone 100 includes a connector 10 tobe connected to an external apparatus (1 of FIG. 1), and a main body 30shaped to be worn on an ear of a user. In this case, the connector 10and the main body 30 are electrically connected via a cable C.

The main body 30 includes a housing 32 sized to be worn on the ear ofthe user. The housing 32 may have a nonlinear shape of which one end isbent. In addition, an opening 34 allowing a voice signal to be inputthereto and output therefrom is formed in a surface of the housing 32facing an external auditory meatus. A speaker 36 and a microphone 40 aredisposed within the housing 32. In other embodiments, an additionalspeaker or an additional microphone may be included within the housing32.

An output line of the microphone 40 is connected to a filter unit 62,and the filter unit 62 is connected to the connector 10. In this case,the output line of the microphone 40 is directly connected to theconnector 10 when the filter unit 62 is not required.

The speaker 36 converts an electric signal provided from an externalapparatus such as a mobile telephone via the connector 10 into a voicesignal and outputs the voice signal. The voice signal output from anoutput terminal 38 of the speaker 36 is delivered to the externalauditory meatus via a first penetrating groove 48 of a soundproof member46, the opening 34 of the housing 32, and an opened groove 58 of a cover56. In this case, the opening 34 of the housing 32 may be implemented asa plurality of grooves corresponding to the first penetrating groove 48,a second penetrating groove 50, and a third penetrating groove 52.

The microphone 40 converts the voice signal of the user provided via theexternal auditory meatus into an electric signal and outputs theelectric signal to the filter unit 62.

In accordance with some embodiments, the microphone 40 may beimplemented as a capacitor microphone including a back hole 44. Themicrophone 40 including the back hole has an effect of amplifying andoutputting the voice signal of the user. In addition, the microphone 40including the back hole has a bidirectional characteristic and a highlynoise-resistant characteristic.

The speaker 36 and the microphone 40 are disposed in parallel to eachother, and are fixed and supported within the housing 32 by thesoundproof member 46 for supporting the speaker and the microphone. Inthis case, the output terminal 38 of the speaker 36 and the inputterminal 42 of the microphone 40 are disposed toward the same direction.That is, the output terminal 38 of the speaker 36 is disposed toward theopening 34 of the housing 32, and the input terminal 42 of themicrophone 40 is also disposed toward the opening 34 of the housing 32.In other words, the output terminal 38 of the speaker 36 and the inputterminal 42 of the microphone 40 are disposed toward the surface facingthe external auditory meatus.

The soundproof member 46 may be formed of a single layer or a pluralityof layers. In addition, the soundproof member 46 may be formed ofseveral separate parts to facilitate assembly of the ear microphone 100.That is, the soundproof member 46 may include a first soundproof member46-1 in which the speaker 36 and the microphone 40 are disposed to theleft and a second soundproof member 46-2 is disposed to the right with across-sectional surface 54 being a reference therebetween. In this case,a material of the soundproof member 46 may be any one of asound-absorbing material, a plastic material, a rubber material, and asilicone material.

Hereinafter, the first soundproof member 46-1 and the second soundproofmember 46-2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

The ear microphone 100 has a cover 56 disposed at an outside of thehousing 32 toward the external auditory meatus for closely attaching theear microphone 100 into the ear of the user. The cover 56 has aplurality of protrusions 60 externally formed thereon while surroundinga portion of the housing 32 toward the external auditory meatus and hasan opening groove 58 in communication with the opening 34 of the housing32 in the central portion of the cover. In this case, since the cover 56is closely attached into the ear of the user, it may be formed of a softmaterial such as silicone having a close attachment property.

As described above, the voice signal is provided to the input terminal42 of the microphone 40 via the external auditory meatus, the openinggroove 58 of the cover 56, the opening 34 of the housing 32, and thesecond penetrating groove 50 of the soundproof member 46. In addition,the voice signal is provided to the back hole 44 of the microphone 40via the third penetrating groove 52.

The filter unit 62 may receive an output signal of the microphone 40,and may remove a noise signal included in the received output signal ofthe microphone 40.

The ear microphone 100 may be implemented using a Bluetooth technique.In this case, the ear microphone 100 may not include the connector 10.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the second soundproof member according toa first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second soundproof member 46-2 includes aspace A and a space B therein. An electronic circuit designed to preventan echo or howling phenomenon from occurring when the speaker 36 and themicrophone 40 are close to each other may be received in the space A. Inaddition, an additional speaker or microphone for reducing an externalnoise may be disposed in the space A if needed. The space B may be usedas a path for disposing electric interconnections for the speaker 36,the microphone 40, the electronic circuit, or the like.

As described above, the space A within the second soundproof member 46-2may be utilized to make the ear microphone 100 clear in appearance.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the second soundproof member according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the second soundproof member 46-2 has aspace C in which an electric interconnection between the speaker 36 andthe microphone 40 is disposed outside the second soundproof member 46-2as compared to the first embodiment.

As described above, the second soundproof member 46-2 may be designed asin the second embodiment to enhance the effect of suppressing the noisethat may be introduced into the speaker 36 and the microphone 40.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a wired ear microphone as an earmicrophone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the wired ear microphone 200 includes a connector105 to be connected to an external apparatus, a control unit 110 settinga use mode of the wired ear microphone 200 and controlling generaloperations of the wired ear microphone 200, and an earphone unit 130worn on the ears of the user and performing voice output or voice inputprocessing.

In this case, the earphone unit 130 consists of a first earphone unit130 a and a second earphone unit 130 b to be worn on both ears of theuser. A first speaker S1 and a microphone M1 are disposed in the firstearphone unit 130 a, and a second speaker S2 is disposed in the secondearphone unit 130 b. That is, the voice signal provided from theexternal apparatus is transmitted to the ears of the user via the firstand second speakers S1 and S2 disposed in the first and second earphoneunits 130 a and 130 b, respectively. The voice signal of the user isdelivered to the microphone M1 via the external auditory meatus of theear and provided to the external apparatus.

In this case, the first earphone unit 130 a includes the first speakerS1 and the microphone M1 that are integrally formed, and the secondearphone 130 b includes the second speaker S2. For example, the firstspeaker S1 is a BA driver, and the second speaker S2 is a dynamicdriver.

The BA driver capable of reproducing a high-note sound and having asmaller size than that of the dynamic driver may be employed for thefirst earphone 130 a because both of the microphone M1 and the firstspeaker S1 of the first earphone unit 130 a needs to be inserted intothe ear. The dynamic driver may be employed for the second earphone unit130 b in order to reproduce a low-tone band and decrease the productioncost.

In addition, the control unit 110 may further include a mode selectionunit 110 a for selecting a listening mode or a communication mode, thatis, a service provided in connection with the external apparatus coupledwith the connector 105. That is, the control unit 110 performstransmission and receipt on signals input from the microphone M1 andsignals output through the first and second speakers S1 and S2 inaccordance with the mode selected by the mode selection unit 110 a.

The microphone M1 of the first earphone unit 130 a amplifies the signalprovided from the ear of the user, converts it into an electric signal,and then provides the electric signal to the external apparatus.

In addition, for example, the wired ear microphone 200 may furtherinclude a volume adjustment unit and a telephone conversation buttonunit, and the first earphone unit 130 a may further include a filterunit for impedance-matching with the external apparatus.

Hereinafter, the BA driver and the dynamic driver serving as the firstspeaker S1 and the second speaker S2 will be described in detail.

The BA driver is a kind of a transducer in which the horseshoe-shapedarmature is wrapped around by coils to reproduce the sound by means of adiaphragm using an electromagnetic field generated between permanentmagnets, and the diaphragm is formed of a metallic material. That is,when an AC current is applied to the coils, the opposite arm (disposedwithin the magnetic field) moves toward the positive electrode of themagnet and vibrates as the current changes. This vibration is deliveredto the diaphragm usually formed of a very thin metallic foil. The BAdriver is characterized in that it can be manufactured with a small sizeand has good high-frequency reproduction ability and sensitivity becausethe diaphragm itself is extremely light as compared to the dynamicdriver in which the coils are attached to the diaphragm. In addition,since the BA driver usually does not have a partial vibration occurringwhen the lead of the coil is attached to the bottom surface of thediaphragm, it has a small value of second or higher order harmonicdistortion to provide a clear tone and a good resolution. Due to thesecharacteristics, the BA driver is much more expensive than the dynamicdriver. The BA driver available in the present invention outputs thehigh-note sound to allow the sound range of about 100 Hz to about 22 kHzto be reproduced.

The dynamic driver operates in the same principle as the general loudspeaker or the dynamic microphone. Coils attached to the diaphragmformed of a thin Mylar or a paper vibrate as the voltage within themagnetic field changes, which in turn makes the diaphragm vibrate toallow the change in air pressure nearby to be recognized as a sound.That is, the dynamic driver is a kind of a transducer in which thediaphragm connected to the central coil moving up and down within themagnetic field generated by the permanent magnets is employed to allowthe electric signal to be converted into the voice signal by thevibration of the diaphragm. The dynamic driver available in the presentinvention outputs the low-note sound to allow the sound range of about20 Hz to about 16 kHz to be reproduced.

Therefore, the transducers driven in different manners from each otherare used as the respective first earphone unit 130 a and the secondearphone unit 130 b to output notes different from each other, and thenotes output from the wired ear microphone 200 of the present inventionare thus widened. A piezoelectric driver using piezoelectric elementsmay also be employed instead of the BA driver outputting the high note.

Hereinafter, operations of the wired ear microphone 200 having theconfiguration described above will be described.

First, the electric signal provided from a mobile communication terminalwhile the connector 105 of the wired ear microphone 200 is coupled withthe external apparatus such as the mobile communication terminal isprovided to the first speaker S1 and the second speaker S2 of the wiredear microphone 200 through the connector 105 and the cable.

The earphone unit 130 converts the electric signal applied from theexternal apparatus (e.g., a mobile communication terminal, a radio set,a voice recognition device, or the like) into a voice signal or a soundsignal, and then outputs the converted signal via the output terminal.In addition, the voice signal generated by the user is introduced intothe space of the soundproof member via the opening groove of the cover,the opening of the housing, and the penetrating groove of the soundproofmember from the external auditory meatus, and the voice signal deliveredthrough the space is introduced into the input terminal of themicrophone. The voice signal introduced into the input terminal of themicrophone is then delivered to the external apparatus in a wired orwireless manner. Hereinafter, details thereof will be described withreference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a wireless ear microphone according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the wireless ear microphone 300 has noconnector 105 and includes a signal transmission and reception unit 240transmitting and receiving signals with respect to an external side ascompared to the wired ear microphone 200 of FIG. 1. In addition, thewireless ear microphone may further include a filter unit forimpedance-matching.

A first earphone unit 230 a, a second earphone unit 230 b, a controlunit 210, and a mode selection unit 210 a included in the wireless earmicrophone 300 are already described in detail as in the wired earmicrophone 200, and the detailed description thereof will thus beomitted. However, the wireless ear microphone 300 is different from thewired ear microphone 200 in that the control unit 210 controls thesignal transmission and reception unit 240 to transmit and receive thesignal.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the first earphone unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first earphone unit 130 a or 230 a includes ahousing 180 sized to allow the housing to be inserted into the ear ofthe user. The housing 180 may have a nonlinear shape of which one sideis bent. In addition, an opening 111 for inputting and outputting thevoice signal is formed in a surface of the housing 180 facing theexternal auditory meatus.

In addition, the first earphone unit 130 a or 230 a includes a firstspeaker 120 for outputting the sound signal of a high note, and thefirst speaker 120 and the microphone 130 are positioned within thehousing 180. The first speaker 120 converts the electric signal providedfrom the external apparatus such as a mobile telephone into the voicesignal and then outputs the voice signal. The voice signal output fromthe output terminal 121 of the first speaker 120 is delivered to theexternal auditory meatus via the first penetrating groove 143 of thefirst soundproof member 140, the opening 111 of the housing 180, and theopening groove 161 of the cover 160. In this case, the opening 111 ofthe housing 180 may be implemented as a plurality of groovescorresponding to the first penetrating groove 143, the secondpenetrating groove 144, and the third penetrating groove 145.

The microphone 130 converts the voice signal of the user provided viathe external auditory meatus into the electric signal and then outputsthe electric signal. In some embodiments, the microphone 130 may beimplemented as a capacitor microphone including a back hole 134. Themicrophone 130 including the back hole has an effect of amplifying andoutputting the voice signal of the user. In addition, the microphone 130including the back hole has a bidirectional characteristic and a highlynoise-resistant characteristic.

The first speaker 120 and the microphone 130 are disposed in parallel toeach other, and are fixed and supported within the housing 180 by thefirst soundproof member 140 for supporting the first speaker and themicrophone. In this case, the output terminal 121 of the first speaker120 and the input terminal 131 of the microphone 130 are disposed towardthe same direction. That is, the output terminal 121 of the firstspeaker 120 is disposed toward the opening 111 of the housing 180, andthe input terminal 131 of the microphone 130 is also disposed toward theopening 111 of the housing 180. In other words, the output terminal 121of the first speaker 120 and the input terminal 131 of the microphone130 are disposed toward the surface facing the external auditory meatus.

In this case, the soundproof member described with reference to FIG. 7is the first soundproof member 140, which is intended to distinguishbetween the first soundproof member and a soundproof member that is asecond soundproof member 350 at the time of describing the secondearphone unit 130 b with reference to FIG. 15. A description of FIG. 7is also applied to FIG. 15 in terms of the material, structure, or thelike of the soundproof member.

The first soundproof member 140 may be formed of a single layer or aplurality of layers. In addition, the first soundproof member 140 may beformed of several separate parts to facilitate assembly of the first earmicrophone 130 a. That is, the first soundproof member 140 may include afront end soundproof member 140-1 in which the first speaker 120 and themicrophone 130 are disposed to the left and a back end soundproof member140-2 disposed to the right with a cross-sectional surface 150 being areference therebetween. In this case, a material of the first soundproofmember 140 may be any one of a sound-absorbing material, a plasticmaterial, a rubber material, and a silicone material.

The first earphone unit 130 a has a cover 160 disposed at an outside ofthe housing 180 toward the external auditory meatus for closelyattaching the first earphone unit 130 a into the ear of the user. Thecover 160 has a plurality of protrusions 162 externally formed whilesurrounding a portion of the housing 180 toward the external auditorymeatus and has an opening groove 161 in communication with the opening111 of the housing 180 in the central portion of the cover. In thiscase, since the cover 160 is closely attached into the ear of the user,it may be formed of a soft material such as silicone having a closeattachment property. As described above, the voice signal is provided tothe input terminal 131 of the microphone 130 via the opening groove 161of the cover 160, the opening 111 of the housing 180, and the secondpenetrating groove 144 of the first soundproof member 140 from theexternal auditory meatus. In addition, the voice signal is provided tothe back hole 134 of the microphone 130 via the third penetrating groove145.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the front end soundproof member of thefirst soundproof member according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the front end soundproof member 140-1includes a microphone-receiving groove 230 in which the microphone 130is disposed and a first speaker-receiving groove 220 in which the BAdriver 120 is disposed.

The front end soundproof member 140-1 has a second penetrating groove144 connecting the microphone-receiving groove 230 to the opening 111 ofthe housing 180, and a first penetrating groove 143 connecting the firstspeaker-receiving groove 220 to the opening 111 of the housing 180toward the external auditory meatus direction. In this case, the secondpenetrating groove 144 is a path for allowing the microphone 130 totransmit/receive the voice signal from an external side, and the firstpenetrating groove 143 is a path for allowing the first speaker 120 totransmit/receive the voice signal from the external side.

When the microphone 130 includes the back hole 134, the microphone mayfurther include the third penetrating groove 145 as a path for allowingthe voice signal output from the ear of the user to be input to the backhole 134 of the microphone 130 via the first speaker-receiving groove220. In this case, since a position, a shape, a number of the thirdpenetrating groove 145 may be changed depending on the design or need,the third penetrating groove 145 may be formed of at least onepenetrating groove.

In other embodiments, when the microphone 130 does not include the backhole, another microphone as a second microphone (not shown) may bedisposed within the first soundproof member 140 to use the thirdpenetrating groove as a path for the voice signal output from the secondmicrophone. However, when the microphone 130 does not include the backhole and the second microphone is not disposed within the firstsoundproof member 140, the front end soundproof member 140-1 may nothave the third penetrating groove 145 because it does not require thethird penetrating groove 145. In addition, positions of the firstpenetrating groove 143 and the third penetrating groove 145 may bechanged in the BA driver-receiving groove 220.

FIGS. 9 to 11 are a perspective view, a top view, and a bottom view ofthe front end soundproof member of the first soundproof member accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, the front end soundproof member 140-1 may berecognized in a three-dimensional way. The front end soundproof member140-1 may have a protrusion 146 outside the first penetrating groove143. The protrusion 146 is closely attached and bonded to thepenetrating groove of the first speaker 120 present in the housing 180.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a portion of the housing according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 12, the housing includes a housing separatingfilm 213 for separating the opening 111 of the portion of the housing180 according to the present invention into a first speaker outputsignal opening 211 and a microphone 130 input signal opening 212. Inother embodiments of the housing separating film 213, a T-shaped housingseparating film 213 may be employed when the third penetrating film 145exists.

This has an effect of allowing the housing separating film 213 toprevent the output signal of the speaker 120 from being delivered to theinput of the microphone 130, thereby preventing the echo or oscillatingphenomenon from occurring and enabling the user to have a cleartelephone conversation even in a noisy environment.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a cover according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline D-D′ of the cover of FIG. 13.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the cover 160 of the present inventionincludes a cover separating film 313 for separation into the opening 311of the first speaker 120 output signal and the opening 312 of themicrophone 130 input signal. In other embodiments of the coverseparating film 313, a T-shaped cover separating film 313 may beemployed when the third penetrating film 145 exists.

In this case, since the cover 160 is closely attached into the ear ofthe user, it may be formed of a soft material such as silicone having aclose attachment property.

The cover separating film 313 prevents the output signal of the speaker120 from being directly delivered to the input of the microphone 130.Accordingly, when the user of the ear microphone 200 and 300 has aconversation with the counterpart on the phone, the cover separatingfilm 313 has an effect of preventing the echo or oscillation phenomenonfrom occurring due to the output signal of the speaker 120 delivered tothe input of the microphone 130.

In addition, the cover 160 has a plurality of protrusions 162 forpreventing the external noise from being introduced into the housing.This allows the voice signal provided from the ear of the user not to beoutput outside and the earphone unit 130 to be closely attached into theear and not to be easily fallen out of the ear even when the user is inexercise, thereby comfortably listening to the music and having acomfortable telephone conversation.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the second earphone unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, the second earphone unit 130 b of the presentinvention only has a second speaker 320 in the second soundproofmember-receiving unit disposed within the “

”-shaped housing 380 sized to be inserted into the ear. Accordingly, thesecond earphone unit 130 b is configured to only output a low-note voicesignal. In this case, an opening 361 of the housing for outputting thesound signal is disposed in a surface of the housing 380 facing theexternal auditory meatus.

The second speaker 320 converts the electric signal provided from theexternal apparatus into the sound signal and outputs the sound signal.

The second speaker 320 is fixed and supported within the housing 380 bythe second soundproof member 350. In addition, a cover 360 is disposedat an outside of the housing 380 toward the external auditory meatus forbeing closely attached to the ear of the user. The cover 360 has aplurality of protrusions 362 externally formed while surrounding aportion of the housing 380 toward the external auditory meatus toprevent the external noise from being introduced thereto via the cover360. An opening groove 363 is formed in communication with the opening361 of the housing 380 in the central portion of the cover 360. In thiscase, since the cover 360 is closely attached into the ear of the user,it may be formed of a soft material such as silicone having a closeattachment property.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating the front end soundproof member of thesecond soundproof member according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the front end soundproof member 350-1 ofthe second soundproof member 350 cylindrically has a stepped(stair)shape and has a second speaker-receiving groove 341 for allowing thesecond speaker 320 to be disposed therein. In this case, the secondspeaker-receiving groove 341 is intended to fix the second speaker 320by means of the second soundproof member 350 in order to minimize thevibration due to the external wind or the mechanical vibration noisegenerated in the mechanism of the second earphone unit 130 b. Inaddition, the second soundproof member 350 is used to prevent theexternal noise from being introduced into the second speaker 320 via thehousing 380.

A fourth penetrating groove 343 for allowing the sound signal to bedelivered to the external auditory meatus is formed at the bottomsurface of the second speaker-receiving groove 341, that is, the centralportion of the surface facing the external auditory meatus. The soundsignal reproduced by the external apparatus is delivered to the externalauditory meatus via the fourth penetrating groove 343, the housing 380,and the cover 360.

FIG. 17 illustrates the sound frequency response curve output from thefirst speaker of the first earphone unit and the sound frequencyresponse curve output from the second speaker of the second earphoneunit in accordance with the present invention. In particular, the BAdriver is employed as the first speaker, and the dynamic driver isemployed as the second speaker.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the frequency response curve of the soundheard by both ears of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 15, and 18, the first speaker 120 used in thefirst earphone unit 130 a of the present invention is a high-note drivercapable of reproducing the note ranging from about 100 Hz to about 22kHz, and the second speaker 320 used in the second earphone unit 130 bis a low-note driver capable of reproducing the note ranging from about20 kHz to about 16 kHz.

In the BA driver and the dynamic driver available in the ear microphones200 and 300 of the present invention which are ear microphones that canbe inserted into the ears, one sound source signal is delivered to eachof the BA driver and the dynamic driver. However, the low-note sound isreproduced in the dynamic driver, and the high-note sound is reproducedin the BA driver.

As described above, when the low-note sound and the high-note sound areoutput via the different drivers, the sound of the overall outputfrequency widely ranging from about 20 Hz to about 22 kHz isadvantageously delivered to the user as shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 19 illustrates the ear microphone including the voltage controlunit for the ear microphone according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The ear microphone 400, the voltage control device 412 forthe ear microphone, and the mobile communication device 430 are showntogether for convenience of description in FIG. 19.

The mobile communication device 430 may be implemented as a mobiletelephone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a wireless set, or a personaldigital assistant (PDA).

The ear microphone 400 includes a connector (or a jack 414), a controlcircuit (or a volume adjustment device 416), a first earpiece 418, and asecond earpiece 420. Each of the earpieces 418 and 420 in the earmicrophone 400 indicates the component to be inserted into each ear ofthe user.

The connector 414 of the ear microphone 400 may be electricallyconnected to the voltage control device 412 for the ear microphone. Inaddition, the connector (or jack 410) of the voltage control device 412for the ear microphone may be electrically connected to the output port432 of the mobile communication device 430.

Accordingly, the output voltage output from the output port 432 of themobile communication device 430 (e.g., an output signal corresponding tothe voice signal) may be transmitted to each of the earpieces 418 and420 via the connector 410, the voltage control device 412 for the earmicrophone, the connector 414, and the control circuit 416.

Although the voltage control device 412 for the ear microphone and thecontrol circuit 416 are separated in the embodiment shown in FIG. 19,the voltage control device 412 for the ear microphone and the controlcircuit 416 may be integrated on one chip or separate chips and thenimplemented as one device.

The connector 414 may be connected to the voltage control device 412 forthe ear microphone, and the control circuit 416 may adjust the signaloutput to the speakers S1 and S2 implemented in the respective earpieces418 and 420 and output via the output port 432 of the mobilecommunication device 430, that is, the level of the voice signal such asthe volume.

The first earpiece 418 includes the speaker S1 and the microphone M1.The microphone M1 may use the signal generating from the ear of the useras an input signal when the first earpiece 418 is inserted into the earof the user and the user talks. The second earpiece 420 includes thespeaker S2.

The voltage control device 412 for the ear microphone may maintain theconstant level of the output voltage V output via the output port 432 ofthe mobile communication device 430 to reduce the echo and howling thatmay occur when the speaker S1 and the microphone M1 are integrallyimplemented, thereby enhancing the call quality of the mobilecommunication device 430.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating the voltage control device forthe ear microphone shown in FIG. 19, and FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagramillustrating operations of the voltage control device for the earmicrophone shown in FIG. 19.

Referring to FIGS. 19 to 21, the voltage control device 412 for the earmicrophone includes a voltage detector 440 detecting the level of theoutput voltage V output from the output port 432 of the mobilecommunication device 430, and a voltage control circuit 442 includingthe first earpiece 418 in which the speaker S1 and the microphone M1 areintegrally implemented and the second earpiece 420 having the speaker S2and bypassing the output voltage V when the output voltage Vdet detectedby the voltage detector 440 is between the first voltage V1 and thesecond voltage V2 higher than the first voltage V1 to the first andsecond earpieces.

The voltage control circuit 442 amplifies the output voltage output fromthe output port 432 when the detected output voltage Vdet is lower thanthe first voltage V1 to a voltage between the first voltage V1 and thesecond voltage V2 (e.g., increases the voltage level), and then suppliesthe amplified voltage to each of the earpieces 418 and 420.

The voltage control circuit 442 attenuates the output voltage outputfrom the output port 432 when the detected output voltage V−Vdet ishigher than the second voltage V2 to a voltage between the first voltageV1 and the second voltage V2 (e.g., decreases the voltage level), andthen supplies the attenuated voltage to each of the earpieces 418 and420.

In other words, the voltage detector 440 detects the level of the outputvoltage V output from the output port 432 of the mobile communicationdevice 430, and outputs the control code C-CODE corresponding to thedetected level. The control code C-CODE may include at least two bits ormore.

For example, the voltage detector 440 generates the control code C-CODEhaving a first code when the detected output voltage Vdet is between thefirst voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 higher than the first voltageV1 (V1≦Vdet≦V2), generates the control code C-CODE having a second codewhen the detected output voltage Vdet is lower than the first voltage V1(V1>Vdet), and generates the control code C-CODE having a third codewhen the detected output voltage Vdet is higher than the second voltageV2(Vdet>V2).

The voltage control circuit 442 includes a bypass circuit 434, anamplifying circuit 436, and an attenuating circuit 438.

The bypass circuit 434 bypasses the output voltage V output from theoutput port 432 to the first earpiece 418 in which the speaker S1 andthe microphone M1 are integrally formed and bypasses the output voltageV to the second earpiece 420 in accordance with the control code C-CODEhaving the first code.

The amplifying circuit 436 amplifies the output voltage V output fromthe output port 432 and then supplies the amplified voltage to each ofthe earpieces 418 and 420 in accordance with the control code C-CODEhaving the second code.

The attenuating circuit 438 attenuates the output voltage V output fromthe output port 432 and then supplies the attenuated voltage to each ofthe earpieces 418 and 420 in accordance with the control code C-CODEhaving the third code.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the voltage controldevice for the ear microphone shown in FIG. 19. Referring to FIGS. 19 to22, the connector 410 of the voltage control device 412 for the earmicrophone is connected to the output port 432 of the mobilecommunication device 430, and the connector 414 of the ear microphone400 is connected to the voltage control device 412 for the earmicrophone (S10).

The voltage detector 440 detects the level of the output voltage Voutput in the output port 432 of the mobile communication device 430(S20).

The voltage detector 440 of the voltage control device 412 for the earmicrophone determines whether the detected output voltage Vdet isbetween the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 (S30).

Since the voltage detector 440 generates the control code C-CODE havingthe first code when the detected output voltage Vdet is between thefirst voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 (V1≦Vdet≦V2), the bypasscircuit 434 enabled by the control code C-CODE having the first codebypasses the output voltage V output from the output port 432 to each ofthe earpieces 418 and 420 (S32).

Since the voltage detector 440 generates the control code C-CODE havingthe second code when the detected output voltage Vdet is lower the firstvoltage V1 (V1>Vdet), the amplifying circuit 436 enabled by the controlcode C-CODE having the second code amplifies the output voltage V outputfrom the output port 432 and then supplies the amplified voltage to eachof the earpieces 418 and 420 (S34).

Since the voltage detector 440 generates the control code C-CODE havingthe third code when the detected output voltage Vdet is higher thesecond voltage V2 (Vdet>V2), the attenuating circuit 438 enabled by thecontrol code C-CODE having the third code attenuates the output voltageV output from the output port 432 and then supplies the attenuatedvoltage to each of the earpieces 418 and 420 (S36).

Since the voltage detection operation of the voltage detector 440 iscarried out in real time, the voltage control circuit 442 can alwaysmaintain the level of the output voltage V output via the output port432 of the mobile communication device 430 at a voltage between thefirst voltage V1 and the second voltage (V1≦Vdet≦V2). Therefore, theecho and the howling that may occur in the first earpiece 418 in whichthe speaker S1 and the microphone M1 are integrally implemented can beremoved.

While the present invention has been described with reference toembodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that theforegoing embodiments are merely exemplary and various modifications orequivalent embodiments thereof may be made from the detailed descriptionof the present invention by those skilled in the art. The true scope ofthe present invention should be determined by the technical spirit ofthe claims.

The present invention may be applied to the ear microphone and thevoltage control device for the ear microphone.

What is claimed is:
 1. A voltage control device for a wired ear microphone in which a speaker and a microphone are integrally formed, the voltage control device comprising: an input connector electrically connected to an output port of a mobile communication device; an output connector electrically connected to an input port of the wired ear microphone; a voltage detector detecting an output voltage output from the output port of the mobile communication device; and a voltage control circuit configured to: amplify the output voltage to a voltage between a first voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage and supply the amplified voltage to the speaker when the detected output voltage is lower than the first voltage, and attenuate the output voltage to a voltage between the first voltage and the second voltage and supply the attenuated voltage to the speaker when the detected output voltage is higher than the second voltage.
 2. The voltage control device for wired ear microphone of claim 1, wherein the voltage control circuit supplies the output voltage to the speaker when the output voltage detected by the voltage detector is between the first voltage and the second voltage.
 3. The voltage control device for wired ear microphone of claim 1, wherein the voltage detector generates a control code based on a level of the detected output voltage, and the voltage control circuit amplifies or attenuates the output voltage based on the control code. 